Color Label Solutions

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Recently, I attended a
presentation by Mike Corcoran on designing label artwork for the QL-300. As a
Graphic Designer with years of experience and extensive knowledge in the
packaging industry, Mike was able to provide valuable insight into the printing
capabilities of the QL-300, the world’s first 5-color toner-based tabletop
printer.The QL-300 is a LED-based printer with the
capability to add white to labels.Additionally,
the QL-300 enables the use of many new types of materials for print-on-demand
color labels.

After listening to Mike,
I’m convinced the QL-300 offers ample opportunities for companies to create
unique looks and effects with on-demand color label printing.Let me give you an overview of why and how to
use white and a wide variety of unique materials to create exciting, beautiful
label designs.

First, why white?According to
Mike, “White can stand on its own, but can also lay behind colored elements to
prevent them from blending into dark media or dark elements behind clear media.”

To illustrate this point, Mike created this example label artwork for
Kraft paper.

Kraft Label With No White

Notice twodifferent aspects of the label print output.First, the barcode would probably not scan with
the Kraft background.For all retail
products, it’s imperative that the barcodes scan at checkout or retailers will
issue a fine.Also, notice how the
nutritional facts are somewhat difficult to read with the Kraft background.

Second, notice how some of the colors of the various spices have
blended into the background of Kraft paper.When branding requires materials such as Kraft, you may want thecolor
to “pop” more.

By adding white as a background, you can ensure barcodes scan well and
text is easy to read.Further, you can
make the color stand out on dark backgrounds by adding white behind the colors.

QL-300 Printed Kraft With White

This print output on Kraft paper looks noticeablybetter
using the white background.

In addition to Kraft, white can a add pop on clear film as well as enable you to use the
color elements of the
actual product as a part of your artwork.In this image, Mike shows how clear film uses the color of the product as
a design element.

White Vs Clear (With White Printed) Label

White On Clear Featuring The Product

In this design, Mike used the white to highlight the label design as
well as the background to
ensure the colors stand out.

In addition to materials such as Kraft and clear film, the QL-300
enables other materials to create interesting effects.

QL-300 Printed Materials

In this image, Mike shows how black toner on black paper creates almost a gloss or UV coating
effect.Black toner on a black label
would seem to be an interesting effect; a designer’s dream!However, you would not use white behind black
ever.

To create stunning, beautiful artwork to take advance of the QL-300,
Mike recommends Adobe Illustrator. (Please know: I’m not an A.I. expert). AI
enables a graphic artist to design in images, add backgrounds and covert fonts
to outlines.

Once
the artwork has been created, Mike made one additional key point: save the files as a PDFX/x_1a:2001. PDF/X is
a subset of the PDF ISO standard. The purpose of PDF/X is to
facilitate graphics exchange, and therefore, has
a series of printing related requirements which do not apply to standard PDF
files. To learn more about this standard;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/XTo learn more
about design for the use of white and interesting label materials, check out
this video from Mike:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpPqSYPkArA&feature=youtu.be

From my perspective, I
see the QL-300 fitting three types of customers. First, cannabis companies should consider the
QL-300 where branding includes the use of foils, as well as many
other design elements. Second, food
manufacturers, where clear film that enables the use of the product/product
color as a part of the brand/label artwork.
Third, commercial printers who want to offer these capabilities to their
customers.

QL-300 Print Samples

For commercial printers,
it’s worth noting that the QL-300 enables the use of ICC profiles and will soon
offer a Postscript driver and RIP software (Raster Image Processor). Many commercial printers may prefer this
functionality as a part of their label printing workflow.

My thanks to Mike
Corcoran for a great presentation and important education. As Mike says, “the QL-300 is a game changer
in print-on-demand color label printing.”
And our Graphic Artist, Tony Molina, says “having the white option gives
label designers tremendous creative possibilities as well as flexibility when
creating color labels. The option to use
white as a design element will make your artwork unique.”

If you want to create and print unique label artwork, contact us. We’ll help you get starting printing with the
new QL-300.